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I haven’t forgotten about the contest announcement. I overbooked friends on this blog, so I’ll post the name of the winner and details about the next contest tonight! ~DD

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Re-Releasing and a Character Interview

I’ve recently come into rights for a few of my very first releases. Upon receiving the rights back I’ve mulled over what I wanted to do. Of course I want them available for purchase…but as my own? Or released with another publisher?

Therein lay a conundrum.

I won’t pretend that I’ve been around long enough to say I’m ready to self publish. The idea was tempting at first but I have more learning to do and continual growth to plot. Not that I haven’t been learning the past few years. Meeting authors and taking classes has been both a joy and a great continual educational experience.

I come from a degree in Respiratory Therapy where continued education is a state requirement. Finding low cost or free classes weren’t hard at all. There are a multitude of loops and sites that offer core classes on craft honing. When I learned this I jumped on the bandwagon and gobbled up as much as I could. Some classes didn’t lead me more into my voice but in totality all of the classes combined helped me find my voice. My point is…

Because of those classes, when I re-read my first works, I found myself repositioning passages and phrases in my head, looked at how the plotting was put together and like a new puzzle I was eager to jump in and re-create the characters I’d come to love so much.

I wrote Briar’s Champion a sweet revenge love short, when my sister was at St. Luke’s Hospital having a quadruple by-pass. I needed some way to expel the worry and stress on what could happen. My faith was a bit shaken although I prayed every day. My adoptive sister Shannan and I stayed every night at the hospital for a week and then every other night after the surgery for another week.

Briar Thompson has it all, the perfect boyfriend, and the future that promises to bear fruit, until betrayal emerges and she’s forced to face reality. When all hope is gone, what chances are there of having the happily ever after?

Sloan Gutiérrez is a strong man who appreciates all women. After buying the professional baseball team called The Devils, he arrives in town to set up his home. In his lifestyle the ‘real thing’ is elusive and gold digging women are on the prowl. The last thing he expects is to fall for the first woman he meets.

Come Meet Sloan, he’s been kind enough to stop in for a chat and tell us some about himself.

We decide to settle on my deck where the sun is shining and there’s a nice breeze. Sloan’s made himself as comfortable in my house as he is in my head, and hands me a nice glass of tea…decaffeinated since he knows all too well I can’t have any stimulants and he sports a cool bottle of Miller Light. I’m sure he’ll tear into me later for not having what he considers the God of all beers in my fridge.

He’s charming with his dark brown eyes and lanky form, wearing a pair of jeans and a V-neck tee.

“So let’s get this party started.” He says while taking a swig out of the bottle. I notice how he brushes off the condensation from the sweaty bottle.

“All right. Can you tell the readers what you do for a living?”

“You should know better than to start a question like that…what if I said no.” Sloan chuckles and drops down into a patio char next to me, winks and takes a second swig. “I own a Baseball team.”

I decide to change my tactics. “So…would you consider yourself a hands on owner, or the cash cow?” Okay so he looks a bit offended. I grin.

“I’m a hands on guy in all situations.” He leaves it like that and I know I’ll be sporting a headache later or paying for the insulting question. Men!

“What is your favorite movie?” He mulls for a second, brings a hand to his brow leaving me in suspense. “Field of Dreams.”

“Iffff you build it they will come.”

“It’s a baseball movie Ma Hale Ya. Better than your obsession with all Nicolas Sparks movies. Ya’ll have no idea of the shyte we’re forced to watch during one of her many moods. Although… The Lucky One wasn’t half bad.” I decide to be oh so mature and roll my eyes.

“How did you meet Briar?” I don’t miss how his brown eyes brighten when her name is brought up. He’s a sap, even if he refuses to admit it.

“We met at a bar. I know it’s cliché and you chicks don’t think you can meet a good guy in bar but here’s proof that ya’ll are wrong— sometimes.”

I like how he escaped the hang-man’s noose with the wrong sometimes line.

“What is your favorite thing about Briar?”

“She isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I admire her guts in being straight forward.”

I don’t know too many guys who like that trait. Each to their own though I won’t say so outloud.

“What does Briar do to drive you crazy in a good or bad way?”

“Briar has this perfume. Don’t know what’s in it. I forget everything when she walks past me and the breeze carries that particular scent. She knows too, I’ll be in the middle of a business meeting and she’ll come in. Since then she’s been forbidden to wear that scent to my offices.”

“Favorite Beer?”

“Hefeweizen?”

“Hefe what?” I’ve never heard of that brand.

“Come on Hales, you drink that fruity crap. Loopy Vodka and sprite.”

“Yeah well it tastes like fruit loops cereal. Ya know the milk in the bowl after all the cereal is gone.”

“You stick to your fufu drinks and I’ll stick to the beers.” At least he isn’t grimacing while downing the inferior bottle I have on hand. To me beer is beer.

Now for some more interesting questions…. “Do you sing in the shower?”

“Before I answer… I’ll give you two scenarios. Don’t want anyone thinking I’m a cheap bastard.” He sets his beer down and braces his arms on his thighs. “I enjoy a romantic dinner, wooing, candle light. Briar likes the arts, gallery shows, theater, ballet, we attend different events.”

“Why would that make you a cheap bastard?” I ask for clarification.

“Woman, I wasn’t done yet. Hang tight. “I also enjoy a quiet night at home, some rented movies and popcorn with Briar’s head on my lap while we watch in the comfort of our place. She goes crazy when I scratch her scalp, purrs like a well fu- feed kitten.”

I caught the word change. Good save.That made me blush but damn I hear them fornicating in my head so why it brings heat to my face now I haven’t a clue. “Soooo what kind of music do you listen to?”

“Latin music, country, rock. I’m game to most everything. When I played Headstrong was my song when they threw my stats up on the boards.”

I take a sip to ease my parched throat and go in for the gold. “Who, living or dead, would be your hero if you have one?”

“My brother Sam died protecting our country. He is one of the fallen heroes.”

I know personally how much his brother meant to him and how his death molded Sloan into the man he is now.

“Here’s a fun one. Tell us a little bit about your author. Where can we find more of her works? And If you could offer your author advice, what would it be? The sadness leaves his face and he grins evilly. “She is a nut. A sweet nut but a nut none the less, has no directional ability even with the fancy GPS navigation system on her cell phone. It’s voice activated and has a picture plotting the course and she still gets lost. She’s good at letting us tell our story instead of making all decisions for us like we’re children. You can find her on social media or her website www.mahalialevey.com.”

“Thanks for the praise.” I preen under his positive attitude.

And he wasn’t done. Beer loosens his tongue like wine loosens a woman’s. “We know what kind of day she’s having by her choice of play list.” He chuckles and picks back up his beer. “How is the bedroom advice going?”

I of course have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Have you ever lost control? And what was the outcome? “I fired a pitcher and broke his nose during televised media broadcasting.”

“Bad man.”

“Yeah. So sue me.” He drained his beer. “Gotta dash doll. It’s been real. Got a meeting to make. Thanks for the brew. I’ll send you some of mine to keep on hand for next time.” Sloan stood and slipped on his glasses.

“Your car service is here for you.”

“They buzzed my cell. I didn’t answer since I promised you full attention.” Sloan gave me a salute and hopped over the deck railing. I can def see why Briar was mesmerized by him.

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 Hey Mahaila that was a great interview. Surprised he sat down with you and cooperated. Good job on settling him in for the questions. Hope you have his beer on hand for the future interviews.